Recording chessboard



Feb. 27, 1951 J. K. lMClNEK ETAL RECORDING CHESSBOARD 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 9, 1 4

l 4 .w M W @W. M w T m 112 2) anions J K.5ILJ:22JLZ1?/e Feb. 27, 1951 J. K. lML'JNEK ET AL RECORDING CHESSBOARD 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 9, 1946 Feb 1951 J. K. lML'JNEK ET AL 2,543,339

RECORDING CHES SBOARD Filed May 9, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet In 0 J7JZ1ZF5 J K, cmzlnak j. J. 5 ZLZZLZZZQ/Gi Feb.'27, 1951 J. K. QIMUNEK ET AL RECORDING CHESSBOARD Filed May 9, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 27, 1951 J. K. lMUNEK ET AL 2,543,339

- RECORDING CHESSBOARD Filed May 9, 1946 a Sheets-Sheet 6 Iii/Z) 612760.25 JK,5 z'/mzP/1ze .6 IL @1061 Patented Feb. 27, 1951 RECORDING CHESSBOARD Josef Karel Simiinek and Josef Jan Simimek, Ricany, near Prague, Czechoslovakia.

Application May 9, 1946, Serial No. 668,624 In Germany May 26, 1944 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires May 26, 1964 4 Claims. 1

Efforts have for along time been made to devise a chess-board which would be capable of reliably and unambiguously recording the individual moves in a game, either automatically or at least in a manner which would cause as little disturbance as possible to the players, so that the match could be reproduced whenever desired. The method of recording the moves in writing hitherto adopted is based upon the numbering of the squares according to a system of co-ordinat s, numerals l to 8 and letters A to H being employed. This method is in many respects inadequate, since the player is disturbed in his reflection, more particularly by the determining of the squares and the rows, and therefore also in the recording of the moves. Similarly also in re producing a game the player would have to concentrate his attention above all on the reading of the record, thereby materially diminishing the enjoyment he might otherwise obtain from the reproduction of the game.

So-called automatic chess-boards have already been constructed, which enable each move to be recorded. These constructions have however adhered to the above-mentioned system of recording the moves by means of co-ordinates representing the squares by means of numerals and letters. On this ground all automatic chessboards hitherto known have been very complicated, and furthermore they have in no way facilitated the reproduction of games previously recorded thereby, so that such games had to be played over again in the customary manner.

As already mentioned, the inventors of existing automatic chess-boards could not free themselves from the prejudice that the recording of a game of chess must necessarily be effected by indicating the individual moves in their time sequence according to the co-ordinates of the squares quitted and the fresh squares occupied. It is from this tendency that all the disadvantages of existing automatic chess-boards have arisen, since it makes them much too complicated and places an inadmissible burden upon the players.

According to the present invention this method of indication is abandoned, and an automatic chess-board is provided which is based on quite a different principle, since the inventors have realized that it is quite immaterial in what way the individual moves are recorded, provided the record is accurate and durable, and enables the chess match to be reproduced in a simple manner.

The invention is based upon the following fundamental ideaLEach square is provided with an aperture, through which, at each move, a mark can be made beneath every square upon a record sheet arranged underneath the chess-board. This record sheet is moved relatively to the chessboard area in such a way that for each more only a single mark is made on the record sheet for each square, and that the marks made on the record sheet in respect of the individual moves, both on the square quitted by the piece and on the square now occupied thereby, remain individually visible for each square, and do not overlap.

The recording and reproducing means according to the invention may of course also be applied to other games, in which a larger or smaller number of squares or like areas are provided.

The invention may in practice be embodied in a considerable variety of constructional forms, some of which are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment, in which a record sheet moves through a rectangular chess cabinet parallel to two of the sides of the latter, whereas the playing area is turned through an angle relatively to the cabinet and F to the record sheet;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment, in which the sides of the playing area are parallel to the sides of the cabinet, but the record sheet moves through the cabinet in a direction making an acuate angle with the adjacent sides of the playing area and of the cabinet;

Figures 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views in sectional elevation of this second embodiment, showing details of the mechanism;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a third embodiment, in which the record sheet moves to and fro in a direction parallel to two sides of the cabinet and of the playing area;

Figure 6 is a plan view showing the mechanism of a fourth embodiment, the chess-board, which forms the top of the cabinet, being partially broken away;

Figures '7 and 8 show details of the mechanism of this embodiment in sectional elevation on the lines 1'! and 88 in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a plan view on a larger scale of part of this embodiment, with the chess-board partly broken away to show the feeding mechanism for the record sheet;

Figure 10 shows this mechanism in side elevation, partly in section on the line XX in Figure 9;

Figure 11 shows in perspective on a greatly enlarged scale one of the window apertures through which marks are made on the record sheet;

Figure 12 shows in elevation, partly in section, a suitable form of pencil for marking the record sheet through such a window aperture;

Figure 13 is a plan view of a chess-board showing supplementary rows of squares by means of which the nature of a piece that is moved can be recorded, in addition to the squares quitted and occupied; and

Figure 14 is a plan view of a chess-board showing an advantageous arrangement of the window apertures.

The simplest standard construction will first be described, and this will serve for the description of the entire method of play. In Figure 1, B represents a chess-board, constituting the top panel of a cabinet or casing containing mechanism for feeding the record sheet C through the cabinet immediately underneath the chess-board panel B. The squares of this chess-board are each provided, all at the same position, with a marking aperture, these squares being arranged obliquely in relation to the edges of the chessbeard panel. Underneath the chess-board panel the record sheet C moves parallel to one pair of edges of the panel, the movement always taking place in the same direction, as indicated by the arrow. Each player has a pencil in his hand, with which, at each move, he makes a mark on the record sheet, for instance a dot or a stroke, through the apertures in the square that the piece is quitting and in the square to which it is moved. The two players may preferably have pencils of different colours. As soon as both players have made their marks the record sheet is advanced, either b hand or otherwise, through such a distance that the marks just made disappear beneath the surface of the chess-board panel, after which the next two moves can be played and the next marks made. In this case, on the record sheet, a column of marks for each square will appear, and therefore for the entire chess-board there will be sixty-i our parallel columns. The inclination of the squares to the record sheet must be so selected that the columns of marks on different squares do not overlap one another.

It will be readily understood that after, taking the record sheet out of thechess-board frame or cabinet the game cannot be directly read off therefrom, since it cannot readily be seen in what sequence the records were made, nor to what pieces they refer. If however the record sheet is re-inserted in the chess-board frame, and the pieces set out in the usual way, a mark will ap pear in the aperture in front of the figure that has to make the first move, and at the same time a mark will also be visible in the square to which that piece is to be moved. After advancing the record sheet a mark will appear in front of the piece that has to make the second move, and simultaneously with the appearance of this mark another mark will appear on the square to which this second piece is to be moved. In this way the entire game develops smoothly and can be played over again, so that the owner of a chess-board according to this invention is at any time in a position to replay any games previously played by him, and to do this with the full enjoyment obtainable from the game, without having to devote his attention to the determination of the coordinates of the squares quitted and to be cupied by the pieces moved. In such repetition playing, however, these co-orclinates can readily be determined and noted if desired, for purposes of publication for example.

In Figure 1 the idea of the invention is dia- 4 grammatically represented in a very simple example, whereas Figures 2 to 5 illustrate practical embodiments of the idea in detail.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 represent a recording chessboard which consists of a shallow box or cabinet, in which however the square chess-board area is normally arranged parallel to the edge of the chess-board panel. The record sheet is however moved obliquely in relation to the edges of the chess-board area and to those of the cabinet.

In the side walls of the chess-board cabinet are arranged in staggered relationship to one another two elongated apertures, through which the record sheet C is inserted and withdrawn. Underneath the chess-board panel B is arranged a guiding plate A for the record sheet, the margins of this guiding plate bein bent upwards. Ihe record sheet may be advanced at each move by hand for example, but in that case the feedv might not always be uniform. It is preferable to employ for the displacement of the record sheet an automatic device, represented in Figures 2, 3.

and 4.

The record sheet is guided between two rollers.

I and 5, the axes of. which are arranged at right angles to its direction of movement. The roller 5 is mounted in an aperture ID in the chess-board panel and is supported by mean of spring-controlled bearings. Against this roller 5 the record sheet is pressed exclusively by means of a roller I,

located beneath, it, and carried by a rotatable shaft 2, which projects outwards on both sides of the chess-board cabinet through vertically elon-- gated holes 3 in the side walls. The shaft 2 is subject to the action of springs. 4, which press it upwards, and thereby press the roller I against the roller 5. By depressing the shaft 2 against the action of the springs 4 the insertion of the record sheet between. the rollers I and 5, or the reversev displacement of the same,is made possible.

The, advancing of the record sheet after each move may be effected by rotating the shaft 2' by the aid. of knobs secured to both ends thereof or by means of levers 9, these knobs or levers, one

for each. player, being arranged on opposite sides of. the chess-board cabinet. The two levers 9 are securedto. a rotatable shaft, on which is alsomounted an arm 8,, which, with the help of a pawl I, at each depression of the lever 53, ad-

vances a ratchet wheel 6 secured to the shaft 2.,

The marking apertures in the chess-board squares. should be so dimensioned that the record mark is not longer than /8 of the side of the square.

A further development of the idea of the invention is represented in Figure 5. In this case the record sheet corresponds in shape and size to the chess-board area, and the relative movement of the chess-board panel and the record sheet is effected onlywithin the limits of the dimensions of a single square, so that the recording marks of one and thesame square are located in a different arrangement upon an area of the same size, which lies underneath the said square. In this instance the corresponding movement may be carried out either by the record sheet or by the chess-board panel, which latter may for this purpose be so designed as to be movable over the; record sheet.

In this constructional example the record sheet Dis fixedly secured by'smeans' of clamps or the like to a base plate E, the dimensions of which are somewhat greater than those of the sheet. Uponthe base plate E is located, in the middle between the" two opposite sideedges, a guide II,

mately 110' one square, and in which moves a member l2 projecting downwards from the chess-- board panel F arranged above the base plate E. The guide H may consist for example of a plurality of parallel slots or grooves l3, in which the member I2 moves, this member being constructed in the form of a knob. The guide might alternatively be constructed like a comb, and the member 12 would then move as a rider thereon. The movement of the member I2 is effected first along one marginal groove or rib IS, the chess-board panel above beingdisplaced only to such an extent that the preceding mark is concealed. When the member I2 has reached the end of the first groove or rib [3, it is shifted back, either by hand or by the action of a spring, to the beginning of the second groove or rib, after which the movement is repeated. In this way there is produced on the record sheet, beneath each square, a corresponding record, on an area which is of the same size as the square itself. This method of recording is particularly advantageous for the cheapest type of reproducing chess-boards according to the invention, since it can be made mainly of paper or the like.

In Figures 6 to is illustrated a further modification of the same construction, in which however the record sheet is moved and the chessboard panel remains at rest.

The record sheet is clamped upon a plate G, which lies close beneath the stationary chessboard panel F, and is movable relatively to the same in two perpendicular directions parallel to the sides of the squares. This movement is rendered possible preferably by the fact that the plate G is supported upon a fork or guiding structure I6. This fork l6 hastwo arms i611 and i612 extending at right angles to one another. The arm [Ba is arranged in the axial direction just underneath the chess-board panel, while the other arm lBb is arranged on the bottom of the chess-board cabinet. One arm merges into the other through a vertical connecting portion marked It in Figures '7 and 8. The plate G, which is supported by four rollers l4 carried by means of springs I5, is mounted axially upon the arm [6a, and is displaceable to and fro thereon in this axial direction. Since this plate G is displaced through a definite distance after each move, a column of marks is formed beneath each square. This displacement of the plate G may be eifected either by hand or by means of the arrangement illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, which will be described below.

After the plate G has been displaced in the direction indicated by the arrow X in Figure 6 through a distance which is approximately equal to one side of a square, it is brought back either by hand or automatically into the initial position in this direction, but at the same time it must be shifted through a definite distance at right angles to this direction, in order that the record marks now made in the second column under this square may not overlap those in the first column. This movement in the direction perpendicular to that of the columns is executed by the plate G by causing the entire fork l6 upon which the plate is supported to move in the direction of the arrow Y in Figure 6.

This displacement may be effected automatically, for instance by means of the device illustrated in Figures 6, '7 and 8. The arm [6b of the fork I6 is provided along a part of one of its longitudinal edges with a rack of ratchet teeth,

the length of the rack being about equal to one side of a square. With these teeth mesh two spring-loaded pawls l8 and IQ, of which the pawl I8 is a detent to maintain the arm I6b in a given position, and the pawl 19 is to effect the displacement thereof. This pawl 19 is connected with a double-armed lever 20, which is rockably supported upon a stationary pivot 20a, and of which the longer arm is secured by a pin H to the plate G, and accordingly participates in its movement in the direction of the arrow X. At the moment when the plate reaches its limiting position, the lever 28 brings the pawl IS in engagement with a further tooth upon the arm I 6b, and thus, upon the return of the plate G into its initial position, causes the latter to be displaced through a distance which is equal to the pitch of the teeth. This movement is repeated every time the plate G is shifted back, until the entire length of the row of teeth is exhausted.

At the commencement of play, or whenever necessary, the arm I61) can be brought by the aid of a knob K arranged on the side of the chess-board cabinet into the initial position. This knob disengages both the pawls l3 and I9,

and the arm is then returned to the initial position by the action. of a spring [60.

The device that shifts the plate G automatically through a distance at each move is illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. To the under face of plate G is fastened a cord L, by which the plate is displaced. The other end of the cord L is secured to a drum or pulley 2|, on to which at each move a definite section of the cord is wound, since the pulley, at each move, is rotated through a definite angle by means of a doublearmed lever 28. The lever 28, which is subject to the action of a spring 38, carries pins 29 and 29a, one at each end, these pins projecting up through the chess-board panel 3!, and being movable in slots 30 and 30a respectively provided in the panel 3!. After each move by his finger the player moves the corresponding pin 29 or 29a from one end of the slot 3% or 3% to the other end, his thumb bearing against the projection 36 or 36a. This brings about a defiection of the lever 28, and brings into action the pawl 32, which is pivoted on the lever 28 and engages in the teeth simultaneously of two superposed ratchet wheels 22 and 23 and feeds them both one tooth forward. The ratchet wheel 22 is rigidly connected with the pulley 2!,

so that the pulley 2| is rotated at the same time thereby winding up a portion of the cord L, as a result of which the plate G is displaced. In the rotated position the ratchet wheels are held fast by means of a detent 33. The two ratchet wheels 22 and 23, of which only the upper one is connected with the pulley 2], have corresponding teeth, only the ratchet wheel 22 is'provided on its periphery with a normal notch located opposite to the tooth Z1 of the ratchet wheel 23. Furthermore the lower ratchet wheel 23 is coupled to the upper ratchet wheel 22 by means of a driving tappet 31, which engages in an aperture 39 provided in the upper ratchet wheel, and cooperates with a fork 24 pivotally mounted on the last mentioned wheel. The second arm of this fork 24 extends beyond the periphery of the ratchet wheel 22. When the ratchet wheel 22 revolves, the plate G is accordingly advanced at each move by a given amount. At the moment however when the pawl 32 reaches the notch on the periphery of the upper ratchet wheel22,

and thus only engages with the ratchet wheel 23, which takes place when, after the termination of the recording column, a return movement of the plate G is to be efiected, the upper ratchet wheel 22 becomes free, which results in a relative rotation of the teeth of the two ratchet wheels. Since however at that time the teeth of the two ratchet wheels no longer register with one another, no engagement of the pawl 32 or of the pawl 33 can take place, so that the ratchet wheel 22, and with it the pulley 2i also, revolve in the opposite direction under the influence of the return spring (not shown) of the plate, as a result of which the cord is unwound, and the plate G is moved back into its initial position by the just mentioned spring. During the said relative rotation of the two ratchet wheels the tappet 31 reaches the other end of the slot 39, at the same time rocking the fork 24 about its pivot. As soon, however, as the free end of the fork 24, during the rotation of the ratchet wheels, strikes against the pin 25, this fork immediately brings the tappet 37 back into its initial position, and thereby brings the teeth of the two ratchet wheels '22 and 23 into registration with one another again. The two pawls 32 and are thus able to come into operative position again, and to mesh with the ratchet wheels 22 and 23, and the entire operation is repeated.

This construction is simple in design and reliable in action, and is particularly suitable for the recording of lightning games.

In some embodiments of the invention the marking apertures are not arranged in such a way that the straight lines joining the marking apertures pass through the centre lines of the corresponding rows of squares, parallel to two edges of the chessboard, but are arranged in progressively displaced relationship to one another in the individual successive squares of the same row, as shown in Fig. 14 so that the straight lines joining the marking apertures, for instance the line M-M, in each row of squares, extend obliquely from one corner of the square at one end of a row to the diagonally opposite corner of the square at the other end of the same row. This chess-board construction permits the advantage that the sheet of paper located underneath the chess-board panel can be moved continuously in the direction parallel to the two margins of the chess-board.

In addition to the usual eight rows of squares the chess-board panel may also be provided with two further rows, one for each player, as illustrated in Figure 13, or with only one such additional row. Each of these additional rows also consists of eight squares, in which case the first six squares from left to right, in the direction in which each player is looking, are provided with representations of the pieces. These squares, which are provided with marking apertures like the other squares, are intended for recording the nature of the piece that is shifted at each move. The last square but one to the right in each additional row may be utilised for recording checkmate, and the last square for recording a drawn game.

Around the apertures 2 in the chess--boa-rd panel through which the records of the moves are made upon the record sheet by means of a pencil, a pin or the like, in the form of strokes, points, perforations or the like, it is advantageous to mill out shallow grooves 40, as shown in Figure ll, in order that it may be possible to see from a, greater distance whether the record h s really The grooves 40 sible to see or read a mark that has just been made even when the chess-board is observed from one side. Furthermore, by means of this groove, the risk of breaking the point of the pencil employed on contact with the edges of the aperture is diminished.

In order still further to diminish the risk of breaking the point of a pencil it is possible to employ a screw pencil with a protected point, as shown in Figure 12. On to the end of the pencil a metal cap M is slipped, the upper end of which is guided in a groove 42 on the periphery of the lower portion of the body of the pencil. In the cap' 4! is provided a hollow tip mounting 43, with a narrow aperture at the lower end for the lead. Around this aperture is provided a seating sur- .face 44, which, when the marking is being effected, is supported upon the surface of the groove 40 around the aperture in the chess-board panel B. Into the mounting 33 extends a projection 45 on the pencil body. Into the hole at the lower end of the cap ill and into the mounting 43 is inserted a guiding tube it {or the lead. Around this tube is arranged a helical spring 41, which bears with its lower end against the bottom of the mounting 43 and with its upper end against the projection 45. When the supporting surface i i bears upon the groove .40 around the marking aperture in the chess-board panel, the player will press the pencil body downwards until the upper edge of the groove 42 comes into contact with the upper end of the cap 41, whereby the lead is extruded to the appropriate extent from the hole at the lower end of the cap. The distance a between the upper edge of the cap M and the upper edge of the groove :32 corresponds to the depth of the holes 40 in the chess-board panel.

Another form of the invention may consist in the fact that the player, instead of employing a pencil, uses a punching pin, by the aid of which holes are made in the paper sheet arranged underneath the chess-board. This method yields the possibility of electrical reproduction, for instance in such a way that underneath the chessboard panel sixty-four light contacts pressing resiliently upwards are provided, one for each square, which can only penetrate upwards at a place where, in playing, a hole has been punched by th piece, and in this manner an electric circuit is closed, which lights up glow lamps underheath a transparent glass chess-board, at the squares from and to which a piece is to be moved.

The invention also renders it possible among other things to print famous or interesting games as a system of record signs on sheets of paper or cardboard, and whole sets of such games can be placed on the market, in conjunction with a corresponding chrss-board panel. By this means beginners can easily learn to play chess, and experienced players can at any time have the pleasure of an interesting game.

Weclaim:

1. Means for graphically recording and reproducing the successive relative positions of game pieces in a game of chess or the like, c0lnprising: a panel marked out as a chess-board, means for accommodating a record sheet of substantially the same size and shape as the playing area of the chess-board close beneath the chess board panel, the chess-board panel being formed with a small aperture in each square through which a mark can be made on the record sheet recording the squares from and to which each piece is correspondingly moved, and means to produce progressively relative displacements be tween the chess-board panel and a record sheet accommodated thereunder between successive moves of the game, all the marks made on the record sheet through any one aperture being arranged in columns within a square area of the size of one of the chess-board squares.

2. Means for graphically recording and reproducing the successive relative positions of game pieces in a game of chess or the like, comprising: a base plate, to which a record sheet is fixed, a panel marked out as a chess-board movably mounted upon the base plate immediately above the record sheet, the chess-board panel being formed with a small aperture in each square through which a mark can be made on the record sheet recording the squares from and to which each piece is correspondingly moved, and means to produce progressively relative displacements between the chess-board panel and the record sheet between successive moves of the game, all the marks made on the record sheet through any one aperture being arranged in column within a square area of the size of one of the chess-board squares.

3. Means for graphically recording and reproducing the successive relative positions of game pieces in a game of chess or the like, comprising: a base plate, a record sheet fixed to the base plate, a panel marked out as a chess-board movably mounted upon the base plate immediately above the record sheet, the chess-board panel being formed with a small aperture in each square through which a mark can be made on the record sheet recording the squares from and to which each piece is moved, guides on the base plate, projections on the under side of the chessboard panel engaging with the said guides, each guide being of about the same size and shape as one of the squares of the chess-board, and adapttially the same size and shape as the playing area of the chess-board beneath the chess-board panel, the chess-board panel being formed with a small aperture in each square through which a mark can be made on the record sheet recording the squares from and to which each piece is moved, and guiding means permitting progressively relative displacements between the chessboard panel and the record sheet accommodated thereunder, said displacements being effected in two directions perpendicular to each other within the area of a single chess-board square,

JOSEF KAREL sIMfINEK. JOSEF JAN SIMfJNEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 810,899 Babu Jan. 30, 1906 1,532,069 Ortiz et a1 Mar. 31, 1925 1,730,640 Brownell Oct. 8, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain Jan. 21, 1882 

